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MOOSIC - Butch Wynegar was in his final season as hitting coach with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2006 when a young slugger named Ryan Braun was briefly in the team's big-league camp.

Wynegar, now the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders hitting coach, said he doesn't remember much about Braun, but recalls him being a confident kid.

Braun, the 2011 National League MVP, was suspended Monday for the remainder of this season for his involvement with a Florida clinic accused of distributing performance-enhancing drugs.

"I wish I knew more," Wynegar said Monday night. "But I don't know all the circumstances. If he's not fighting it, then I guess what's happened, happened."

Asked why he thought a player with Braun's talents would even consider using PEDs, Wynegar said it does make you wonder because it just ruins one's reputation.

But, he added that you shouldn't be quick to judge because you are not in his shoes or know what was going through his mind.

"It's a very competitive situation," Wynegar said. "You already know you're good. But if you think you can do something to make yourself better, sometimes the judgment overwhelms you."

He equated it to someone who tries to rob a bank. The person hopes they do not get caught, but rarely do they get away with it.

"I feel bad for him because he's a good guy," Wynegar said. "All these guys that have gone through this - yeah, they've made their bed - but you feel bad for them. He could have had a great career without it. But everybody is always looking for an edge. The money is so great in this game, if you can find a little edge and hope you don't get caught â¦

"It's human nature I guess. You try to get one leg up."

Contact the writer: swalsh@timesshamrock.com @swalshTT on Twitter

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